Take Note of Potential Background Check Processing Delays: Please visit Vetty’s court delays page for more details about current courthouse delays that may be impacting your background check process.

Returning Applicants

If you’ve already started the sign-up process, click here to pick up where you left off.

New Applicants

If you’re signing up for the first time, click here to open the sign-up page. 

1. In the form, enter your:

  Legal first name

  Legal middle name

  Legal last name

  Email address*

  Phone number

*Take note that school, work, and/or government email addresses are not recommended to use for signup.

2. Once you’ve read Wag!’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, tick the boxes to confirm you agree to abide by them. 

3. You’ll also need to confirm the following is true:

  You're a permanent resident of the United States.

  You're 18 years or older.

  You're eligible to file a 1099 tax form.

4. Then, tap “Get Started” to continue to the next step of the sign-up process.

Note: You must click the “Continue” button at the bottom of the screen to move to the next step.

General Questions

How long does it take to sign up?

Signing up is a quick and easy process that only takes a few minutes. To access the Pet Caregiver app, you must complete ALL of the following items: 

• Save your endorsement link

• Pass the pet safety quiz

• Pay the background check sign-up fee

• Complete a comprehensive background check

• Sign the Pet Care Provider Platform Use Agreement

On average the background check process can take up to 14 business days, but this varies depending on your location. You can check the status in the sign-up portal. Tap here to access the portal. 

You can also find the link to the portal in all communications from Wag! throughout the sign-up process. 

How old do I have to be to sign up as a Pet Caregiver? 

Pet Caregivers must be 18 years or older at the time of sign-up. 

Please note that background check fees cannot be refunded for pending caregivers under 18 years old.

When and how do Pet Caregivers get paid?

Pet Caregivers are paid through Stripe, a third-party payment processing system, which Caregivers set up their Stripe account within the Wag! Pet Caregiver app. To learn more about payouts, please see the article "Managing Your Pay with Stripe Connect."

Are Pet Caregivers employees of Wag!?

Pet Caregivers are not employees of Wag! — they’re independent contractors. As an independent contractor, you own your pet care business. 

Many jurisdictions require pet care business owners to be licensed, insured, and/or registered. You must obtain and/or maintain any licenses required in your area for your business. To learn more about the requirements in your area, check with your local government officials.

Will I qualify for health insurance and benefits?

Pet Caregivers are independent contractors and are not eligible for any Wag! health insurance plans or other benefits. 

However, Pet Caregivers have access to Stride Health, which provides self-insurance options. To learn more about Wag!’s partnership with Stride Health, please see the Stride Health website.

What happens if I fail the pet care quiz?

Before attempting the quiz, you may want to brush up on your pet care knowledge and review the resources in the Wag! Safety Center.

You can retake the quiz until you pass. Until you pass, you will not be able to advance within the sign-up.

Check My Sign-up Status

How do I check my sign-up status?

You can check the status in the sign-up portal. Tap here to access the Wag! sign-up portal. You can also find the link to the portal in all communications from Wag! throughout the sign-up process. 

If you have already initiated your background check, you can check the status of your background check in the Vetty applicant portal.

Endorsements

What are endorsements?

Endorsements are recommendations from people who can attest to your pet care skills. Endorsements help you kickstart your business by showcasing your pet care expertise to Pet Parents.

To learn more, see our Help Center articles on endorsements.

How do I request endorsements?

During the first steps of the sign-up process, you’ll receive an endorsement link. Please be sure to copy this link before moving on to the safety quiz — you won’t get another chance to do so after starting the quiz!

Send your endorsement link to people who can attest to your skills as a pet care professional. 

Do my endorsers have to create a Wag! account to endorse me?

Yes, in order for us to verify the authenticity of an endorsement, your endorsers must open your link on a mobile device and create a Wag! account.

You don’t need to wait until you’ve received all your endorsements to continue through the sign-up process. After you’ve copied your link and sent it to your references, you can move on to the next step.

Once you’ve been approved, you’ll see your endorsements in the “Recommendations” tab of your profile.

Where can I find my endorsement link?

The endorsement link is only available in the portal before you move on to the safety quiz. 

Please be sure to copy this link before moving on to the safety quiz — you won’t get another chance to do so after starting the quiz.

You don’t need to wait until you’ve received all your endorsements to continue through the sign-up process. After you’ve copied your link and sent it to your references, you can move on to the next step.

Do Pet Parents have to pay to submit an endorsement? 

While there are paid endorsement levels, a standard Endorsement does not require payment.

To learn more about Super and Ultimate Endorsements, please see our Help Center article on endorsements.

Approval Process

How will I know if I’ve been approved to use Wag! as a Pet Caregiver?

You’ll receive a welcome email from Wag! when you have been approved. You’ll also see the following message in the sign-up portal:

“Congratulations! Your access to the Wag! Platform has been approved.”

You can check your status in the sign-up portal here.  

Once you’ve been approved, you can download the Wag! Pet Caregiver app on your device through the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android).

After you’ve downloaded the app, you can sign in to your account using your Pet Caregiver credentials. If you forgot your password, click "Forgot Password" to reset it. 

I completed the sign-up process, but I have not received any emails from Wag!. What should I do?

When signing up, please double-check your email address for typos and errors. This will help ensure you receive the sign-in code.

If you have not received any email communications from Wag! after completing the sign-up process, please be sure to check your spam and junk folders for the emails before contacting Wag! Support.

You can check the status and complete the next steps (if required) in the sign-up portal. Tap here to access the Wag! sign-up portal.

If my sign-up was rejected, do I have to go through the entire sign-up process again?

That depends on the reason why your sign-up was rejected: 

• If you were previously rejected due to due to inactivity, you may be required to start the process again.
• If you already have a Pet Caregiver account, any new sign-ups you create will be rejected. Only 1 Pet Caregiver account is permitted per person.
• If your sign-up was rejected for another reason, you won’t be able to sign up again.
• If your sign-up is still in progress, you can pick up where you left off in the sign-up portal. 
  • Tap here to access the Wag! sign-up portal.

Why can’t I sign in to the Pet Caregiver app?

You can only access the Wag! Pet Caregiver app after you’ve successfully completed all necessary steps of the sign-up process and have been notified you're approved. You will not be able to sign in to the Wag! Pet Caregiver app until approved.

You can check your sign-up status in the Wag! sign-up portal.

Where can I buy a Wag! t-shirt?

The Wag! Essentials Store is your one-stop shop for Wag! t-shirts, face covers, windbreakers, bandanas, and other Wag! branded merchandise. Once approved, you can easily access the Wag! Essentials Store within the Wag! Pet Caregiver app. Or, tap here to access the Wag! Essentials Store.

You are not required to have or use a Wag! t-shirt or any other merchandise to offer your services through Wag!.

Background Check

Why is my background check still in process?

The time to process background checks can vary based on your state and county. 

Please visit Vetty’s US Courthouse Delays page to check if a courthouse delay might be impacting your background check process.

Based on the information you provide during the background check initiation process, additional information or verification may also be required. 

Keep an eye on your email inbox for updates about your background check. To check the status of your background check, visit the Vetty applicant portal.

You can also visit the Vetty Help Center for answers to frequently asked questions.

If something is found on my background check, what's the likelihood that I will be approved?

Due to the complexity of the background check process and the attendant regulatory regime, our support team cannot advise you as to how a particular infraction (or combination of infractions) will affect your ability to access the Wag! Platform.

Wag! partners with Vetty, a third-party background check provider, for comprehensive background checks that consider more than just infraction history to keep the Wag! Platform safe for all parties.

You may be asked to provide additional details during the background check process. Please note that, regardless of the outcome, all sign-up related fees are non-refundable. 

Tap here to learn more about the Vetty background screening process.

What is an IDV Fail?

It means that the automated Identity Verification failed. If your background check shows an IDV Fail status, please allow up to 3 business days for your profile to be reviewed. If additional information is needed, Wag! will contact you by email. 

Visit the Vetty help center to learn more about IDV Fails.

How do I update my email address in Vetty?

To receive updates on your background check status, ensure your email address is correct and current in Vetty. 

Visit Vetty’s help center to learn how to update your email address.

All the categories in my Vetty profile show “Information Received.” What does this mean? 

If your background check profile status shows “Information Received,” that means it’s still in progress. Please allow additional time for your background check to be completed. You will receive an email from Wag! when your background check is complete or if any additional information is needed. 

My background check shows "Complete" but when I try to long into the app, it says my sign-up is still in process. What does this mean?

If your background check status shows "Complete," that indicates Vetty has completed running the background check and has sent the result to Wag! for review. Your application is still under review at this point and is in the final stage of the signup process. Once completed, you'll be advised if you've been approved or declined to join the Wag! Platform as a Pet Caregiver. 

Visit the Vetty help center to learn more about the completed Vetty background screening results.

When approved, you'll receive a welcome email from Wag! and will see the following message in the sign-up portal:

"Congratulations! Your access to the Wag! Platform has been approved."